Collapsible box.



A. M. WIGHT.

COLLAPSIBLE BOX. APPLICATION FILED SEPT.14, 1911.

Patented Nov. 5, 1912.

2 sums-sum 1.

A. M. WIGHT. GOLLAPSIBLE BOX.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 14, 1911.

1,043,379. Patented Nov. 5, 1912. I 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

STATES m. wren'r,

OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

COLLAPSIBLE BOX.

I Application filed September To all whom it may conccm:

V Be itknown that I, ARTHUR M. WIGHT,

citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvementin Collapsible Boxes, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description.

My invention relates to boxes or crates, and more particularly to collapsible boxes or crates such as are used for shipping purposes. Its object is to providea box which is cheap tomanufacture, and in which the sides, bottom, ends and top do not require to be nailed or otherwise secured together by hinges or the like.

A further object is to provldea box which, in its knockdown condition can be packed in very compact form, taking up approximately no more space than the lumber itself of which the box is constructed.

The several features of my invention may be more readily understood by reference'to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a box,-

showing the preferred-embodiment of my invention; Fig. 2 isa perspective view of the box in its collapsed or knockdown condition, showing the compact shape it then takes; Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 isa section on the line 44 of Fig. 3; Figs. 5 and 6 are sections on the lines 5-5 and 66, respectively, of Fig. 2; and Fig. 7 is a fragmentary detail in section showing. a modified form of interlocking cleats.

'Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views.

The frame of each of the box-ends E, E may consist of vertical stiles 3, 3 to the outer faces of which are secured, near the top and bottom of the stiles, the transverse cleats 2 and 4 of one box-end and the transverse cleats 2 and 5 of the other box-end.

The box-bottom B is rovided at each of its ends with upturne inwardly extending end-retaining members, that is with members which extend over and interlock with the box-ends.- Said end-retaining members are preferably in the form of transverse cleats 1, 1, which are adapted to have a tongue and groove or wedge engagement with transverse cleats 2,2 secured at the bottom edge of the box ends E, E. The cleats 1 and 2 are preferably of the form shown in Figs. 1 and'3, the cleats 1 provid- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov.5,-1912.

14, 1911. Serial No. 641L252.

ing overhanging flanges beneath which the cleats2 engage to prevent upward displacement of said ends. In other words the cleats 1 of the bottom constitute hooks which hook over the lower edges of the box-ends. The box-ends are thus held at their lower edges against outward displacementand have, as it were, inwardly releasing tongue and groove engagement with the box-bottom B.

The box-cover G has upon its under surface at its ends the transverse cleats 6, 7. The cleat 6 preferably hooks over the cleat 4 of the box-end and when said cleats are thus drawn into locking, engagement the cleat 7, at the opposite end of the box-cover, fits over and upon the outside of the cleat 5. Each of the cleats 5 and 7 upon their adjacent faces is provided with a longitudinal groove, said grooves together constituting a which serves to lock the cover C in place. The cover thus serves to hold the ends E, E at their upper edges against outward displacement. The cover and bottom overlap the edges of the sides and prevent their vertical displacement.

The sides S, S of the box fit between the ends E, E and thus hold said ends against inward displacement. Said sides are themselves held against outward'displacement by the stiles 3 which they overlap. The stiles 3 preferably project a slight-distance above and below the box-sides and thus inclose the cover C and the bottom B, thereby holddisplacement. I

If preferred, instead of the cleats 1 and 2 or 4 and 6, cleats 1 and 2, such as are shown in Fig. 7, may be employed, said cleats having the usual well-known tongue and groove fit with each other. It will also be understood that the terms ends and sides are relative terms, and while I have used said terms with their usually accepted meanings, the term end preferably referring to the shorter and the term side to the longer width of the ox, my invention is not limit- -ed in this res ct. t .will be noted that my invention provi es a box or crate which does not require the use of metal straps or latches. Such straps and latches are diflicult, if not impossible, forvthe ordinary box-maker to construct- The box of .my invention, on the equipment of any box-making factory.

keyway for the longitudinal strip or key 8,

ing said cover and bottom against lateral contrary, is one which can be made in any box factory equipped. with the common Ilocking said ends at their upper edges an inwardly extending overlyin against outward displacement.

2. In a collapsible box or crate, a bottom; transverse cleats secured to said bottom at the opposite ends thereof providing upon the upper surface of each end of said bottom an inwardly-opening transverse groove; ends having at their lower edges transverse cleats providedwith outwardly extending ton e portions fitting in said grooves; sides fittlll between said ends; and a cover provided with means for lockingsaid ends at their upper edges against outward displacement.

3. In a collapsible box or crate, a bottom; transverse cleats secured upon said bottom at the ends thereof, said cleats each gaving an I ends having a frame provided wit vertifil stiles and transverse cleats secured near the lower edges of said stiles and engaging beneath said flan es, said stiles extending upon the opposite si a cover. provided with means for locking said ends at their upper edges against outward displacement. Y

4; In a collapsible box or crate, a bottom having end-retainin members provided with inwardly extending flanges overlying said bottom, ends having transverse bars engaging beneath the flanges of said end-rees of said bottom below said; cleats; sides fitting between said ends; and

taining members, sides fitting between said ends, and a cover provided with means for locking said ends at their upper edges against outward displacement.

. In a collapsible box or crate, the combination with box-ends having a frame consisting of vertical stiles and transverse cleats secured near the upper and lower ed es of said ends, said stiles extending beyon said I cleats to provide for the reception of the box-botto1n and box-cover between the ends of said stiles; of said box-bottom having at its ends upturned inwardly extending endretaining members extending over and interlocking with the cleats at the lower edges of said-ends; sides fitting u on the inside of said stiles between said en s, said sides resting upon said bot-tom; and said cover provided withmeans at each end for interlocking with the cleats at the upper edges of said ends to hold the upper edges 6. The combination with a box of crate having an outwardly projecting cleat at the upper edge of each of its ends, of": cover supported at its ends upon said cleats, the ends of said cover projecting beyond said cleats, said cover bein provided u 1'1 its under surface at oneend with a cleat aving a tongue and groove engagement with the corresponding cleat upon the end of the box and at its other end with a cleat fit ngover the cleat upon the correspondin end of the box, and a removable key'for'mterlocking said last mentioned cleats.

In witness whereof, I, hereunto subscribe m name this 13thday ARTHUR M. WIGHT-. Witnesses:

Wmmu B'. Cmmn, J12,"

'Iimonona R. Wnrm.

of said ends against outward displacement. 

